For years now we've been hearing about the dawn of the age of the "connected car." This week General Motors finally announced details on how it will be taking the phrase literally with its planned roll-out of new models that will come with an optional OnStar 4G LTE connection.
GM-owned Chevrolet announced in advance of the start of the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that its 2015 Corvette, Impala, Malibu, and Volt would be the first models to be available with a built-in connection to AT&T's high-speed network in the United States. Later, the Equinox, Silverado, Silverado HD, Spark and Spark EV will be getting the LTE option, and in Canada, where AT&T currently has an LTE data partnership with Rogers, the Chevrolet Trax also makes the connected lineup.
LTE connectivity in vehicles from GM and other automakers isn't a brand new thing, but this announcement from Chevrolet looks to be the biggest mass market deployment of the wireless broadband access by a vehicle brand so far.
LTE-enabled GM cars will also have Wi-Fi hotspots to keep every laptop, phone, tablet or whatever other device in the vehicle connected. Chevrolet hopes that the broader data pipes into the auto will also boost the value of its MyLink infotainment system and its built-in AppShop.
Apps announced today for the system include Vehicle Health, iHeartRadio, Priceline.com, The Weather Channel, NPR, Slacker Radio, TuneIn Radio, Cityseeker, Eventseeker, Glympse and Kaliki.
Source: GM
